Bathing-machine.



P. L. HUWLETT.

BATHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23.1915.

l 1 92,3 1 4;. Patented July 25, 1916. v

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

P123; for? L. Hon/left.

I w J P. L. HOWLETT.

BATHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-23.1915.

l 1 92,3 1 4, Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s'rarns BATHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25,1916.

Application filed'April 23, 1915. Serial No. 23,362.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LPEY'roN LEON How- LETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brownwood, in the county of Brown, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bathing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bathing apparatus embodying a cabinet, or the like, which is adapted to be occupiedby a person, and which in the preferred form, embodies a plurality of scrubbing elements, so mounted and disposed within the cabinet that,

taken as limiting the scope of the inven+ tion. a

One object of the invention is to provide a bathing apparatus with means for imparting scrubbing motion to the scrubbing brushes, and means for varyingthe speed of the brushes at wlll, to which end, them vention embod1es a cabinet having mounted therein a plurality of scrubbing brushes and driving means connecting said brushes with any suitable source of power that may be conveniently available, such for instance as ahydraulic motor operated by the pressure of an available water supply, a line-shaft, the axle of a railway car, or an electric motor, which motor, in order tovvary the speed of the brushes, will be in circuit with a suitable variable rheostat, or the like, whereas the other forms of prime mover will be provided with equivalent means for varying. the application of power to modify at will the speed at which the brushes, are driven.

Therefore, when 'the electric motor or its controlling rheostat are hereinafter referred to in the specification or claims, they are to be regarded as not limiting the features of the invention to use in connection with this particular type of prime'mover and controlling means, but as intending to embrace in scope, any type ofprime mover and regulating means known to be suitable for the purpose. I

Another object of the invention is to produce an apparatus which'may be readily used as a massaging and drying device, as well as a bathing device, to which. end the apparatus is provided with suitable water circulating connections which are readily controlled by a person occupying the cabinet, whereby the apparatus may be supplied with water for bathing :purposes, and the water out off when it is desirable to employ the device as a massaging means for stimulating the body or for drying the body after the bath.

Another object of the invention is to so regulate the water circulation with respect to the scrubbing brushes, that the body of the person occupying the cabinet will be well supplied with water, at a very much less expenditure of water than in the use of the ordinary shower bath; hence the apparatus can be installed on railway trains or other places where water supply is limited, and in this connection it is to be noted that by reason of central delivery and radial dis charge of the water through the brushes, the latter will be kept in sanitary condition at all times. The centrifugal force devel oped'by rotation of the brushes not only assists in keeping the brushes flushed and cleansed while the water is flowing, but renders them selfedrying after the water is shut off.

Further objects relate to the details of construction and cooperative relationship of the device, whereby its broader characteristics are embodied in a structure that is conveniently operated, comparatively simple in design, and very durable in use, to the end that the device may be employed in places where other bathing apparatuses would be found to be impracticable, as for The invention will be more fully under-- stood from reference to the accompanying drawings, in wh1ch- Flgure 1 1s a side elevation of the come plete apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus showing the cabinet open and ready to be occupied by a person; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a vertical section looking at the front of the apparatus; Fig. 6 is a sectional view looking at the side of the apparatus; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail'view with parts broken away, of one of the scrubbing brushes. Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 88, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 represents a cabinet which may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably some kind of metal, and in order to render it accessible it is constructed of two halves hinged together at 1 and adapted to swing into and out of closed position, and in order to retain the two halves in closed position, a suitable catch 2 is employed. Mounted with freedom of rotation in the cabinet 1 are a plurality of vertically disposed scrubbing brushes 3, two or more of which, such as 3 are preferably pivotally mounted to enable them to swing in an are when the cabinet is opened, and in this way enable a person to readily occupy the cabinet, as well as to increase or decrease the circumferential dimension of that part of the apparatus occupied by a person. The cabinet is supported on the base 4 by the hinge 1. The

base comprises a basin 5 and a drip flange 6, each of which is above the base and extending outwardly therefrom in step formation. The drip flange 6 is constructed with an annular up-turned portion 7 and provides a pan for catching the excess of water which may drip down the outer side of the cabinet. The base 4 is further provided with an axial bearing 8 on which is mounted and keyed a driving disk 9 which is provided with a bevel face 10 by which the bevel gears 11 of the brush shaft 12 are adapted to be driven, thereby rotating their respective brushes. The disk is further provided with a longitudinal friction face 13 on which a friction roller 14 is mounted with freedom of rotation, which roller contacts with the disks 15 on the brush shafts 16 of the brushes 3 and imparts a rotary motion thereto. By means of the brushes being rotated by an independent friction gear on each brush shaft coacting with the single driving gear, any brush may be arrested without interrupting the remaining brushes. This is particularly advantageous should a woman have her hair caught or wound around any of the brushes. In order to transmit motion to the driving disk 9 and thus impart the desired rotary motion to the scrubbing brushes, the same is provided on its under side with teeth 17. which mesh with a suitable toothed pinion 18 mounted on the shaft 19 of the motor 20, which shaft enters the basin throughthe stuffing box 21. Mounted in the basin 5 coaxially with the driving disk 9, is a stand 22 for supporting a person when occupying the cabinet. This stand is rendered adjustable, for persons of different height, by means of its screwthreaded shank 23 extending through the axis of the bearing 8.

24 represents a drain connection for drain ing the basin 5 of water.

Again referring to the brushes 3 and 3, it is to be seen that they arebraced at their tops and bottoms bymeans of'the brackets 26 and 27 to retain them in frictional contact with the driving disk. 7 Each brush is provided with a hollow core 28' (see Fig. .7) with perforations 29 extending into the brush structure, and with the hollow shaft 30 connecting with leads 31 of the water connection 32, the brushes are supplied with water from a suitable supply pipe 33 which is connected to the water connection by the lead 33*. The supply pipe 33 is provided with two valves 34 and 35, one of which controls the hot water supply, and the other, the cold water supply. As heretofore stated, with respect to the brushes 3 they are mounted free to swing in and out, and in order that they may act in this capacity, they are mounted at their bottoms by separate brackets 36 which are pivoted to the bracket 26 at 26 and at their tops by their water connections 31 which include hinge-joints 37. When thus mounted, they may be readily swung in and out at will.

38 represents a variable rheostat for vary ing the speed of the motor 20, and the scrubbing brushes driven thereby. This rheostat may be mounted at any convenient location where it will be in reach of the person when occupying the cabinet.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a person wishing to take a bath may turn on the water in a manner to secure the desired temperature, when he may occupy the cabinet and start the brushes rotating by cutting in the electric motor. As above stated, the rheostat 38 is in convenient position to be controlled by the person when occupying the cabinet and thereby enable him to control the rotation of the scrubbing brushes. After the bathing process is completed the Water may be cut off and the brushes used to dry, as well as to massage the body.

1. In combination with a bathing apparatus, of an annular series of vertically disposed rotary brushes, each having at one end a driven gear, and a common driving gear concentric with the annular series of brushes and in driving relation to all of said driven gears.

2. In combination with a bathing apparatus, of an annular series of vertically disposed rotary brushes, each having at one end a driven gear, and a common driving gear concentric with the annular series of brushes and in driving relation to all of said driven gears; said gears having frictional driving surfaces whereby any brush may be arrested, without interrupting the remaining brushes.

3. In combination with a bathing apparatus, of an annular series of vertically disposed rotary brushes, each having at one end a driven gear, and a common driving gear concentric with the annular series of brushes and in driving relation to all of said driven gears; said gears co-acting through the medium of friction faces and the driving gear having another face, constructed to coact with a power-transmitting element.

. 4. In a bathing apparatus, an annular series of vertically disposed rotary brushes adapted to surround the body of the user, and a mounting for said brushes comprising a water pipe with radially presented branch pipes, each having a bearing in which a brush rotates and through which water is supplied to the brush.

5. In a bathing apparatus, an annular series of vertically disposed rotary brushes adapted to surround the body ofthe user, and a mounting for said brushes comprising a water pipe with radially presented branch pipes, each having a bearingin which a brush rotates and through which water is supplied to the brush; said water pipe being in annular form and said branch pipesbeing extended inwardly therefrom.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a scrubbing element comprising an annular series of vertically disposed rotary brushes adapted to surround the body of the user, a mounting for said scrubbing element sustaining and presenting it in position to receive the body of the user when standing erect, a substantially cylindrical shield surrounding the series of scrubbing brushes and means for supplying a fluid at the scrubbing surfaces of the scrubbing elements, additional brushes being adapted to enter said annular series but movable outward therefrom to admit the user, and separate driving connections for said movable brushes maintaining driving connection therewith in the different positions of said brushes.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a scrubbing element comprising an annular series of vertically disposed rotary brushes adapted to surround the body of the user, a mounting for said scrubbing element sustaining and presenting it in position to receive the body of the user when standing erect, a substantially cylindrical shield surrounding the series of scrubbing brushes and means for supplying a fluid at the scrubbing surfaces of the scrubbing elements; a common driving gear having an upwardly presented beveled driving face, and brush gears having downwardly presented beveled driving faces coacting therewith and resting thereon by the weight of the brushes.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a scrubbing element, a mounting for said scrubbing element sustaining and presenting it in form and position to receive and surround the body of the user when presented against the scrubbing, element, and means for developing scrubbing movement in said scrubbing element, a shield surrounding the scrubbing element and constructed of relatively movable sections adapted to separate, and open the shield to admit the user to the presence of the scrubbing element; and means for supplying a fluid at the scrubbing surface of the scrubbing element; said scrubbing element comprising aplurality of scrubbing members, some of which are movable toadmit the user within the scrubbing element; the movable shield sections having connections through which they control the movable scrubbing members.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a scrubbing element, amounting for said scrubbing element sustaining and presenting it inform and position to receive and surround the body of the user when presented against the scrubbing element, and means for developing scrubbing movement in said scrubbing element, ashield surrounding the scrubbing element and constructed of relatively movable sections adapted to separate, and open the shield to admit the user to the presence of the scrubbing element; and means for supplying a fluid at the scrubbing surfaces of the scrubbing element; said scrubbing element comprising a plurality of scrubbing members, some of which are movable to admit the user within the scrubbing element; the movable shield sections having resilient connections through which they yieldingly control the movable scrubbing members.

10. In a bathing pparatus, an annular series of vertically disposed rotary brushes adapted to surround the body of the user, a substantially cylindrical shield surrounding said annular series of brushes and di-- vided and mounted for opening to admit the user Within the annulus, and a drip pan beneath the brushes and shield; said drip pan having an annular extension provided with a confining flange over which the opening and closing movements of the 10 shield take place.

The foregoing specification signed at BroWnWood, Texas, this 20th day of April,

PEYTON LEON HOWLETT. In presence of tWo Witnesses:

I L. E. VVALKER, Jnssn BOYSER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

